The Magic Pudding - showing at Metcalfe Playhouse Theatre

Metcalfe Playhouse & Janus Entertainment announce

The WA premiere of Norman Lindsay’s classic childrens’ story

THE MAGIC PUDDING

Adapted by Andrew James - Music by Sarah de Jong

 

Lindsay’s classic characters brought to life in joyous new musical play

Norman Lindsay (1879-1969) is one of the most influential Australia’s artists of the twentieth century. During his life he created an extraordinary and celebrated body of work, of which the much loved Australian children’s classic The Magic Pudding, written and illustrated in 1918, is perhaps the most well-known. He wrote it partly to settle an argument with his friend Bertram Stevens of The Bulletin and Art in Australia, who maintained that children liked to read about fairies, whereas Lindsay said they preferred to read about food!

The story is set in Australia with humans [Bill Barnacle] mixing with a lively assortment of bush animals, including Bunyip Bluegum Esq [koala] and Sam Sawnoff [penquin]. It tells of a magic pudding which, no matter how often it is eaten, always reforms in order to be eaten again. It is owned by three companions who must defend it against Pudding Thieves who want it for themselves.

The sixty minute play, adapted by veteran actor Andrew James for Sydney’s Marian Street Youth Theatre, is divided into "slices". There are many short songs, composed by Sarah de Jong, interspersed throughout the text, varying from stories told in rhyme to descriptions of a character's mood or behaviour, and verses of an ongoing sea song.

This musical play for young people about friendship, persistence and the simple pleasures is an inventive mixture of song, verse, adventure and silliness.

“Eat away, chew away, munch and bolt and guzzle” with Albert, the cantankerous walking talking Magic Pudding, young koala Bunyip Bluegum and the noble Society of Puddin’ Owners, Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff, as they wander along the road, indulgin’ in conversation, songs and stories … and eatin’ at regular intervals from the Pudding!

Directed by emerging young director Mark Barford, with musical direction by Ian Westrip, the cast includes some of Perth’s finest actors including Murray Dowsett (as Bill Barnacle), Martin Churcher, Angelique Malcolm and Iskandar Shirazuddin (as Albert the magic pudding). The production also features students from the Stage Door School of Performing Arts. The Lighting Designer is Aaron Stirk and costumes are by Penny Mazzucchelli.

The Metcalfe Playhouse is the result of a partnership between Janus Entertainment and The Empyrean Function Centre & Training Academy located in the former IMAX cinema complex at 12 Lake Street, Northbridge.

Following a week of school holiday performances at the Metcalfe Playhouse, the production will tour to the Kalamanda Performing Arts Centre.

Performances: Monday – Saturday 11.00am and 1.00pm

Tickets: $30 (Standard); $23.00 (Concession/child under 16); $18 (Group 10+)

Metcalfe Playhouse Theatre - September 28 to October 8
Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre - October 11 to 15